New toy

[skilletky]

I'd like to cast my own bullets also. I had to put a new mag plunger in mine to get the horniday ammo to load right.

[PToombs]

Man, I'd be happy if I could find a bolt for my Grandpas Mossberg .22 that wasn't $75 or more. I guess I'm not into guns as heavy as some of you guys are.

[skilletky]

Pete, try gunbroker.com it's kinda like a eBay for guns and what not. They may have what ya need

[oldestof11]

Daryl, you know they made a .30 caliber lever action? Hard as hell to find anything for according to my co-worker. I guess it is a pretty rare model.

[diesel freak01]

Cajun : how hard is casting? I have been itching to try it lately but dont know anyone close to me that does it. I have a friend that has the melter pot but I dont know what else I need. I just started reloading a few months ago on a Lee single stage and just moved up to a Hornady Lock n Load AP progressive press. That thing will crank some rounds out! Glad to know there are some reloaders on here!

[CAJUN 93]

its a very relaxing way to spend a afternoon. i have several 2 chamber molds and several 6 chambers. the 6 holes can really step up production. i smelt all my wheelweights at one time and cast them into ingots. thats a all day project as i usually do 200-300 lbs at a time. actual bullet casting i use a lee bottom pour pot. works great. i start with the 2 chamber (45-70, 30-30, and 35 rem) then finish with the 6 chamber. we shoot 45 acp more than anything so i usually drop 500-700 bullets at a time. best thing is there are no mistakes. all the rejects go right back in the pot.

daryl

[skilletky]

What are you using for heat to melt the lead?

[CAJUN 93]

to melt the wheel weights into ingots i use a large cast iron pot on top of a crawfish burner. a turkey fryer burner will work just as good. make sure to use a pot you will never ever cook in again. also if you find a source for wheel weights you probably want to sort them. steel weights are not a problem as they just float to the top with all the other debris when the lead melts. i skim them off and throw them in the scrap iron pile. some weights are made of zinc. these melt at a little higher temp than lead and once they melt with the lead they cant be seperated. problem is zinc will not fill out the molds all the way. i have not done it but they say once lead and zinc mix it can't be used to pour bullets. i save my zinc weights and melt them seperate and use them for fishing sinkers. i also cast jig heads for the sacalait (crappie to you you yankees ) fishing we do. casting is a fun hobby, little bit of an initial investment but it will repay for itself in a short period. one word of advise, a room temperature bullet and a 600 degree bullet look identical , ask me how i know.

daryl

[skilletky]

Thanks for all the good info sir! What brand powder do you use when reloading 45-70?

[CAJUN 93]

i use reloader 7 in 45-70, 35 rem and 30-30. i buy the big container (8 lbs i think). goes a long ways. cci 200 primers. red dot in the 45 acp.

daryl